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MAC Style Maven Face Kit Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Style Maven Face Kit
MAC Style Maven Face Kit

MAC Style Maven Face Kit ($49.50 for 0.43 oz.) includes six eyeshadows, two blushes, and two lipsticks. It’s a cooler-toned, more purple-based palette. The eyeshadows are disappointing, while the blushes were decent. The lipsticks are okay, but they have a thinner consistency that makes them feel clingier applied (and Girl About Town lost some of its depth). Over the last few years, MAC palettes like these have typically been bigger disappointments, and unfortunately, this year’s Nordstrom exclusives haven’t broken that cycle.

Girls Do Blush is described as a “mauve plum.” It’s a dusty, muted, purple-plum with cooler undertones and a satiny sheen. It had semi-opaque coverage with a texture that was a smidgen powdery, but it sat well on the skin and was blendable. The color wore for eight hours. Urban Decay Rapture (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, lighter. theBalm Cabana Boy (P, $21.00) is brighter. MAC Crazed Imagination (LE, $21.00) is warmer. NARS Oasis (P, $30.00) is warmer. Chanel Rose Temptation (LE, $45.00) is less shimmery. bareMinerals The Indecent Proposal (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Shy One is described as a “mid-tone tan.” It’s a muted, medium peach-beige with warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. The texture was on the powdery side, but it didn’t look powdery on the skin and blended out nicely. The color lasted for seven and a half hours on me. bareMinerals The Close Call (P, $22.00) is darker. MAC Cream Soda (LE, $21.00) is brighter. Urban Decay Video (P, $26.00) is darker, warmer. Chanel Caresse (180) (LE, $45.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer. Urban Decay Indecent (P, $26.00) is lighter, brighter. Hourglass Dim Infusion (P, $35.00) is warmer. See comparison swatches / View dupes side-by-side.

Vivacious Vacuum Cleaner Bag is described as a “deep navy.” It’s a blackened purple with a hint of blue and satin finish. It was dry, firm, uneven, difficult to blend out, and had sheer coverage. Applied, the color lasted for seven hours, so I guess there was a pro. ColourPop Rex (P, $5.00) is less shimmery. Tom Ford Beauty Crushed Indigo (Right) (LE, ) is less shimmery. Sephora + Pantone Universe Moonlight Blue (LE, ) is less shimmery. Disney by Sephora Midnight (LE, ) is more shimmery. Urban Decay Occupy (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter. bareMinerals Shaken Not Stirred (P, ) is darker. Too Faced Heavy Metal (P, $16.00) is cooler. theBalm #5 (P, $6.50) is lighter. Ardency Inn Purple Hearts (P, $32.00) is more shimmery. Chanel Apparition (LE, $36.00) is lighter, brighter. compare dupes side-by-side.

Malt is described as a “soft pinkish beige.” It’s a softened, medium brown with warm undertones and a matte finish, but it doesn’t look anything like the permanent version, which has a pinky tone to it overall. Since it’s pretty different, I don’t want to muck-up the official list of dupes for the permanent version, but here’s a link that’ll show you similar shades to the one in this palette. The texture was firmer and harder to blend out, and it lasted for seven hours on me.

Nearing Dark is described as a “purple plum.” It’s a muted, medium-dark purple with cooler undertones and a pearly sheen. It suffered from a very firm press that made it difficult to get more than sheer coverage out of it, and it was a challenge to work with. Once on, even though it looked pretty ragged, it lasted for seven hours. Dior Dulcinee #4 (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer. Tarina Tarantino Poppycock (LE, ) is darker, brighter. theBalm rem (P, $16.00) is darker, warmer. Urban Decay Hoodoo (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, darker. Cle de Peau Champagne Supernova #2 (P, ) is more shimmery. Chanel Tisse Rhapsodie #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler. Cle de Peau Champagne Supernova #2 (P, ) is more shimmery. Chanel Campanule (107) (LE, $34.00) is darker, more pigmented. Chanel Campanule (107) (LE, $34.00) is darker, more pigmented. Sephora Collection Getaway (P, $13.00) is more shimmery, darker. Anastasia Iridescent Purple (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, brighter. Makeup Geek Pop Culture (P, $5.99) is lighter, brighter, cooler.See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Performance Art is described as a “sterling silver.” It’s a gold-shimmered, pinky-mauve with a frosted sheen. This version in the palette is dominated by the gold shimmer, which gives it a more pinky-beige kind of coloring (it’s no “sterling silver” though). It had so-so pigmentation with a smooth but firm texture. It wore for almost even hours. ColourPop Prickly Pear (LE, $5.00) is more shimmery, less pigmented, lighter. Giorgio Armani Flannel (08) (P, $38.00) is darker. Dior House of Pinks #4 (LE, ) is darker, warmer, better quality. bareMinerals Catch Me If (P, ) is lighter. Tarte Make a Mauve (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter. NARS Dolomites (Left) (LE, $24.00) is lighter, warmer. Makeup Geek Twilight (P, $5.99) is lighter. MAC After Dusk (P, $16.00) is lighter, more muted. View dupes side-by-side.

Shadowy Lady is described as a “blackened plum.” It’s a very dark, blackened eggplant with warm undertones and a matte finish. This shade is part of the permanent range, and its permanent counterpart isn’t exactly the best eyeshadow on the market, but its iterations in palettes is so bad sometimes–including this time. It skips, drags, adheres unevenly, doesn’t blend, and has really shoddy pigmentation. Whatever I manage to get onto the lid wears for seven hours, but it looks terrible. Smashbox Aubergine (P, ) is lighter. MAC Black Plum (LE, $16.00) is lighter. Tarte Boudoir Noir (LE, ) is lighter, more muted. bareMinerals Ensemble (LE, ) is darker. LORAC Nude #7 (LE, ) is cooler. Chanel Pulsion (112) (P, $29.50) is darker, cooler. bareMinerals Ensemble (LE, ) is darker. Bobbi Brown Rich Chocolate (LE, $22.00) is darker, cooler. theBalm Presto (P, $16.00) is warmer. Too Faced Charming (LE, $16.00) is lighter, warmer. Tom Ford Beauty Orchid Haze #4 (P, ) is warmer. theBalm Matt Batali (LE, $16.00) is brighter. theBalm #27 (P, $6.50) is lighter. theBalm Matt Batali (LE, $16.00) is brighter. MAC Graphology (DC, $16.00) is darker, more pigmented. / View dupes side-by-side.

Sweet Allure is described as a “light pearl beige.” It’s a light, pink-tinged white-beige with a frosted sheen. It had good pigmentation with a soft, smooth, and blendable texture (hey, there’s one in every palette!). It wore well for eight hours before fading. Buxom Cocker Spaniel (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, lighter. Urban Decay Sellout (P, $18.00) is warmer. theBalm D2 (LE, $16.00) is warmer. Too Faced Coquet (LE, $16.00) is lighter, brighter. Kat Von D Instaglam (LE, ) is lighter, brighter. Dior Pastel Fontanges #5 (LE, ) is lighter. Ulta Pink (P, $10.00) is lighter. theBalm #14 (P, $6.50) is lighter, warmer. Make Up For Ever I528 Pearl (P, $21.00) is lighter, brighter. Chanel Tisse Venitien #2 (P, ) is less shimmery. Stila Rose Quartz (P, ) is warmer. Dior Trafalgar #1 (P, ) is lighter, warmer. LORAC Blush (LE, ) is more shimmery. Hello Kitty Friendship (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter. MAC Whisper Pink (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery. View dupes side-by-side.

Naked Dream is described as a “mid-tone pinky nude.” It’s a light-medium, muted pink with subtle warmer undertones and a satin finish. It had mostly opaque coverage that went on evenly with some emphasis of the natural lip lines. It wore well for four hours but was slightly drying over time. Tom Ford Beauty Pink Dusk (P, $50.00) is darker. Kat Von D Lovecraft (P, $21.00) is darker, less glossy. MAC Boca (LE, $16.00) is darker, warmer. MAC Love Happens (LE, $16.00) is lighter, warmer. ColourPop Ace (LE, $5.00) is lighter, brighter, glossier. Tom Ford Beauty Flynn (LE, $32.00) is lighter. Tom Ford Beauty Addison (LE, $32.00) is darker. Bite Beauty Sable (LE, $24.00) is darker, warmer. MAC Pretty Natural (LE, $16.00) is cooler, less glossy. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

Girl About Town is described as a “bright blue fuchsia.” It’s a brightened, medium fuchsia pink with cool, blue undertones and a satin finish. The permanent version of this has a lot more pigmentation and depth, and the finish is more luminous. This version wore for four and a half hours and left a stain behind but was on the drying side. Urban Decay Menace (P, $22.00) is darker. MAC Tats (LE, $16.00) is cooler, more muted. Clinique Punch Pop (P, $18.00) is brighter, glossier, lighter. MAC Hollywood Cerise (LE, $16.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler. Bite Beauty #004 (LE, $36.00) is brighter, lighter, cooler. MAC Impassioned (P, $16.00) is less glossy, darker, warmer. MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus (LE, $16.00) is darker, cooler, less glossy, glossier, brighter, warmer. Tom Ford Beauty Cooper (LE, $32.00) is cooler. Bite Beauty Framboise (P, $24.00) is darker, cooler. MAC No Faux Pas (LE, $16.00) is darker, cooler. MAC Catharina (P, $23.00) is darker, cooler, less glossy, less pigmented, glossier. MAC Good Kisser (LE, $16.00) is darker, cooler, less glossy, more pigmented, more shimmery, glossier, brighter. Bite Beauty Vigne (P, $24.00) is darker. MAC Red Balloon (LE, $16.00) is darker. View dupes side-by-side.

MAC Style Maven Face Kit Review, Photos, Swatches

F
3.5
Product
5
Pigmentation
4.5
Texture
7.5
Longevity
2.5
Application
51%
Total

MAC Style Maven Face Kit
MAC Style Maven Face Kit

MAC Style Maven Face Kit
MAC Style Maven Face Kit

MAC Style Maven Face Kit
MAC Style Maven Face Kit

MAC Style Maven Face Kit
MAC Style Maven Face Kit

MAC Style Maven Face Kit
MAC Style Maven Face Kit

MAC Style Maven Face Kit
MAC Style Maven Face Kit

MAC Style Maven Face Kit
MAC Style Maven Face Kit

MAC Style Maven Face Kit
MAC Style Maven Face Kit

MAC Girls Do Blush Blush
MAC Girls Do Blush Blush

MAC Girls Do Blush Blush
MAC Girls Do Blush Blush

MAC Girls Do Blush Blush
MAC Girls Do Blush Blush

MAC Shy One Blush
MAC Shy One Blush

MAC Shy One Blush
MAC Shy One Blush

MAC Shy One Blush
MAC Shy One Blush

MAC Vivacious Vacuum Cleaner Bag Eyeshadow
MAC Vivacious Vacuum Cleaner Bag Eyeshadow

MAC Vivacious Vacuum Cleaner Bag Eyeshadow
MAC Vivacious Vacuum Cleaner Bag Eyeshadow

MAC Malt Eyeshadow
MAC Malt Eyeshadow

MAC Malt Eyeshadow
MAC Malt Eyeshadow

MAC Nearing Dark Eyeshadow
MAC Nearing Dark Eyeshadow

MAC Nearing Dark Eyeshadow
MAC Nearing Dark Eyeshadow

MAC Performance Art Eyeshadow
MAC Performance Art Eyeshadow

MAC Performance Art Eyeshadow
MAC Performance Art Eyeshadow

MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadow
MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadow

MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadow
MAC Shadowy Lady Eyeshadow

MAC Sweet Allure Eyeshadow
MAC Sweet Allure Eyeshadow

MAC Sweet Allure Eyeshadow
MAC Sweet Allure Eyeshadow

MAC Naked Dream Lipstick
MAC Naked Dream Lipstick

MAC Naked Dream Lipstick
MAC Naked Dream Lipstick

MAC Naked Dream Lipstick
MAC Naked Dream Lipstick

MAC Naked Dream Lipstick
MAC Naked Dream Lipstick

MAC Naked Dream Lipstick
MAC Naked Dream Lipstick

MAC Girl About Town Lipstick
MAC Girl About Town Lipstick

MAC Girl About Town Lipstick
MAC Girl About Town Lipstick

MAC Girl About Town Lipstick
MAC Girl About Town Lipstick

MAC Girl About Town Lipstick
MAC Girl About Town Lipstick

MAC Girl About Town Lipstick
MAC Girl About Town Lipstick

24 Comments

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Pami Avatar

I would have been all over this if the quality was there. I can’t understand how MAC can consistently put out such poor quality LE palettes. Thanks for your excellent (as always) review. 🙂

Rachel R. Avatar

You’d think they’d want these given as gifts, and so impress the recipient they’d buy more MAC products. I guess MAC just wants to make a quick buck though. *smh*

Rachel R. Avatar

Girls Do Blush is the only thing I really like in this set, and I like UD Rapture better. Not that I’d buy a whole palette for one blush. The eyeshadows all make me want to cry. This could have been so pretty with all the purples.

Katherine T. Avatar

None of these shadows impress me, and 2 are downright horrible I could go to drugstore and get much better shadows. MAC should stop issuing these sad palettes and focus on winning formulas, like coming out with more Extra Dimension shadows

Diane Avatar

Wow, those dark shadows are so disappointing! The blushes seem nice, but I feel like Mac really needs to slow down with these gimmicky LE releases and palettes, and go back to focusing on quality of the individual products.

Nancy T Avatar

Beyond sad!!! I do believe this to be one of MAC’s absolute WORST face palette do-hickies. Yeah, Malt , what happened there, I wonder…., and all the rest of the eyeshadows and lipsticks look terrible!

Ciara Avatar

M.A.C can’t seem to get it together with these palettes. Such a dissapointment as these colors looked so pretty together upon first glance, but since the quality is lacking money saved! Thanks for the review Christine!

Zoe Avatar

Hey Christine,
I have an honest question- it’s not meant to be a criticism.
Do you think cutting down on the amount of dupes you list in the review itself would decrease the amount of time it takes to write them? You already link to the dupes and swatch galleries anyway (in both the review and at the bottom in a mini gallery). Maybe just call out the 3-4 closest products textually and people can check out the other 20+ for themselves?
You already do so much, with rating, wear testing, photographing, and writing up a review, I imagine reducing one aspect (especially when it requires so many links) would make things run smoother for you.
I hope that wasn’t intrusive in your process!

Christine Avatar

No, because I still have to input all the dupes, so I still have to describe and notate how they differ. They already output automatically – so once I enter the dupes, the list is automatically generated. The only way to save time would be to only give you 3-4 dupes, period, and there’s no efficient way for me to just pick the top ones merely by eye since I usually start with the largest pool and then cut any that look too far outside of the range. In general, very few click on the links – that has been our experience – which is why we show most of the dupes in the post.

Zoe Avatar

Thanks for sharing your insight! I appreciate you taking the time to explain your process!!!
That makes sense. I understand your decision 🙂

Stacy Avatar

I don’t have a MAC counter anywhere near me, and have never owned any of their products. But with the following it has among the masses, I keep telling myself that one of these days, I’ll drink the proverbial kool-aid and place an order for some things. And palettes like these always tempt me as a good first purchase… like, an introduction to the brand.

Christine, let me tell you one more time how *greatly* I appreciate you for what you do here. When I think about how hard I would have kicked myself for plunking $50 down on this pallete?? Good grief! Thank you.

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